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Monday, July 6, 2026
Bill Barad
Bill Barad was a Florida bodybuilder most active from 1944 to 1954. He made the cover of Muscle Power in August of 1949, but I have not been able for find the photographer's name.
Barad 1920-2009 Worked as a licensed pharmacist and one of the first to use steroids. He claimed in an article in 1966 that he had used them for the past 10 years for physical improvement. If he started in 1956, he must have been in level 3 testing of the first anabolic steroids, as steroids were approved and sold beginning in 1958. Barad also claimed in the article that he knew of three Mr America’s who used testosterone while contest training in the 1940’s. Gryf
In the beginning it's easy to think that steroids would have no serious side effects. They said the same about Thalidomide and now more recently Ozempic seems to be creating it's own damage. No offence to Barad, but I only have respect for those who build naturally.
While the early users of steroids probably had no clue about how bad the effects would ultimately be, one has to wonder about the sportsmanchip implications of getting a big one-up and not mentioning it until a decade later.
Hoping there's a photo of a contest, but probably not easy to find.
ReplyDeleteBarad 1920-2009
ReplyDeleteWorked as a licensed pharmacist and one of the first to use steroids.
He claimed in an article in 1966 that he had used them for the past 10 years for physical improvement.
If he started in 1956, he must have been in level 3 testing of the first anabolic steroids, as steroids were approved and sold beginning in 1958. Barad also claimed in the article that he knew of three Mr America’s who used testosterone while contest training in the 1940’s.
Gryf
Seems like he was proud to get in on the ground floor of one of the most destructive trends in sports. Yikes!
DeleteIn the beginning it's easy to think that steroids would have no serious side effects. They said the same about Thalidomide and now more recently Ozempic seems to be creating it's own damage. No offence to Barad, but I only have respect for those who build naturally.
ReplyDeleteWhile the early users of steroids probably had no clue about how bad the effects would ultimately be, one has to wonder about the sportsmanchip implications of getting a big one-up and not mentioning it until a decade later.
DeleteExactly. Makes you wonder how many who trained naturally lost titles to those who frankly cheated. Many, would be my guess.
Delete